Department for Transport

Railways: Electrification

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to review their policy on rail electrification as a result of the report by the Railway Industry AssociationRIA Electrification Cost Challenge, published in March,which highlighted that electrification can be delivered at up to half the cost of previous projects.

baroness sugg: The Government’s policy remains that rail investment decisions will be based on assessments of value for money and passenger benefits. The Government has stated that all rail enhancements will be led by the needs they are fulfilling, rather than the methods of fulfilment. We are committed to electrification where it delivers benefits for passengers and value for money – and since 2010 we have delivered 25 times more route miles of electrification than was delivered between 1997 and 2010 - while also focusing on exploitation of new technology, such as bi-mode, hydrogen and battery technology trains. We welcome any proposals on how electrification projects can be delivered more efficiently.

Channel Tunnel Railway Line: Electrical Safety

lord berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what investigations they have undertaken into the safety of the proposed 1,000megawatt direct current cables due to be installed in the rail running tunnels of the Channel Tunnel; what assessmentthey have made of the risks of a train coming into contact with such cables; what international precedents there are for the safe operation of such cables in close proximity to moving trains; and whether they will require the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission to publish a full safety case on that proposal before installation of such cables is permitted to commence.

baroness sugg: Safety will always be the key priority for rail. Reflecting this, and in the light of outstanding safety issues, consent for the electricity link project was suspended for safety reasons in October 2017, preventing construction work from continuing to the next stage. Government is represented by UK officials on both the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) and the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority (CTSA). Both of these groups have been involved with the ElecLink project since it was first presented to the CTSA by Eurotunnel in 2011. A working group, comprised of members from the UK and French delegations to the CTSA, Eurotunnel and the cable project team, was established and meets frequently to ensure that safety issues associated with the cable installation and its interaction with the Eurotunnel railway operations are addressed. That group has both formally and informally assessed submissions from Eurotunnel, as well as completing site inspections, observing at safety tests and attending and convening specialist working groups. The CTSA working group is currently in the process of assessing Eurotunnel’s latest safety submission, which requests consent for the project to proceed to the next stage of construction. The IGC has asked Eurotunnel to produce a safety case relating to all relevant factors, including an independently assessed Safety Assessment Report, for submission to the CTSA working group.No operational precedents for this project have been identified.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Home Shopping

lord shipley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of consumer protection legislation governing the sale of both new and used private goodsonline.

lord henley: Her Majesty’s Government considers evidence of the effectiveness of all consumer legislation periodically and will take action where appropriate. In April 2018, the Government published a Consumer Green Paper consulting on a variety of issues including seeking views on the legal framework covering consumer to consumer transactions, which would include new and used goods. The Consumer Green Paper is available in the Libraries of the House. We will publish a Consumer White Paper in due course.

Shares: Registration

lord hodgson of astley abbotts: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to make UK share registers more transparent.

lord henley: The Companies Act 2006 already requires companies to keep their register of members up to date. Companies whose shares are not traded must file the names of their members on the public companies register held at Companies House. Companies whose shares are traded must file the name and address of shareholders who hold 5% or more of any class of issued shares.

Electricity Generation

lord stunell: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to permit Demand Side Response measures to be taken into account when assessing bids under the Capacity Market scheme, if and when the Scheme is re-started.

lord henley: Capacity Market auctions are technology neutral and all eligible technologies are able to compete on an equal basis. Demand side response (DSR) providers have been able to participate in all Capacity Market auctions, alongside other technologies, since the Capacity Market was established. We also held two “Transitional Arrangements” auctions for DSR in 2016 and 2017. The most recent T-4 auction, held in 2018, awarded agreements to 1.2 GW of DSR capacity. Capacity market agreements totalling over 4.7GW have been awarded to DSR through the CM so far, worth approximately £85million.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Bahrain: Human Rights

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to persuade the government of Bahrain to (1) end capital punishment and to reprieve those awaiting execution, (2) release journalists imprisoned as a result of their professional work, (3) end the use of torture in all circumstances, and (4) allow those who have had their Bahraini citizenship removed since 2012 to present their cases for restoral of citizenship.

baroness goldie: (1) The UK's position on the use of the death penalty is longstanding and clear. We oppose its use in all circumstances and countries. The Government of Bahrain are fully aware of our position(2) The UK and Bahrain have an open dialogue which enables us to raise our concerns, including on individual cases, through private and senior channels. Where we have concerns we raise them at a senior level with the Government of Bahrain. The UK supports freedom of expression and freedom of speech as both a fundamental right in itself and as an essential element of a full range of human rights. We continue to encourage the Government of Bahrain to protect freedom of expression for all of its citizens, in line with its international obligations(3) We continue to encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to raise them with the appropriate Bahraini human rights oversight body. We encourage the oversight bodies in Bahrain to carry out thorough and swift investigations into any such claims(4) The UK has raised our concerns on the revocation of Bahraini citizenship at a senior level with the Government of Bahrain.​

Bahrain: Rule of Law

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what practical results have been achieved from their expenditure of £6 million on technical aid to strengthen the Rule of Law and to secure justice reform in Bahrain.

baroness goldie: We continually assess all programme activity throughout implementation, to ensure it is on track for delivery, as well as upon completion of each individual project. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has provided numerous updates on its work in Bahrain in its annual Human Rights Reports, as well as through Freedom of Information Act requests. This information can be found on the gov.uk website.

Kurds

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish their response to the open letter sent to the Prime Minister on 8 March by Peace in Kurdistan; and if not, why not.

baroness goldie: ​The Government has not to date received the letter in question. We would respond to correspondence we receive in the usual way.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 6 March (HL14022), what steps they will take to protect the right of Palestinian communities to farm their own land and have access to water.

baroness goldie: We continue to raise with our Israeli counterparts our concerns about the humanitarian and environmental impact of the damage to water sources and the destruction of Palestinian agricultural land that has been caused by settlement-related activity.

Israeli Settlements: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 6 March (HL14024), what measures are in place to protect Palestinian students fromattacks by settlers supported by Israeli forces.

baroness goldie: We condemn any incidence of violence by settlers against Palestinians and continue to stress to the Israeli authorities the importance of providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, including students.

Israel: Palestinians

lord touhig: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the practice of trying Palestinian young offenders, engaged in acts of provocation, in military courts.

baroness goldie: The Government continues to have concerns about Israel's military court system for Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We have advocated to the Israeli authorities the importance of fulfilling the internationally recognised standards for a fair trial. We are particularly concerned about continued reports of ill-treatment of Palestinian minors in Israeli military detention, which we regularly lobby the Israeli authorities on.​

Attorney General

Lord Janner of Braunstone

lord campbell-savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Crown Prosecution Service were first made aware of the omission in the report by Sir Richard Henriques, An Independent Review of the Metropolitan Police Service's handling of non-recent sexual offence investigations alleged against persons of public prominence, published on 8 November 2016, to refer to exculpatory unused material in relation to criminal offences, accusations, references to known persons with criminal records and other material held in Government records which might affect decisions in the case of Lord Jannerof Braunstone.

lord keen of elie: Sir Richard Henriques was commissioned by the Metropolitan Police Service to review their handling of Operation Midland; his report was published in November 2016. It would therefore have had no bearing on decisions made by the Crown Prosecution Service in the prosecution of Lord Janner, which concluded in March 2016.

Department of Health and Social Care

NHS: Agency Workers

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was spent on NHS agency staff in the last ten years for which records are available.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: Due to the way that agency expenditure was measured across legacy organisations prior to the creation of NHS Improvement, comparable figures are only available from 2012-13 onwards.The following table shows that after a 40% increase in total agency expenditure between 2012-13 and 2015-16, new measures introduced to reduce agency spend across the National Health Service have been successful. Since their introduction, agency spend has fallen from a peak of £3.6 billion in 2015-16 to £2.4 billion in 2017-18 – a £1.2 billion reduction.We recognise that there is still more to be done in this area, and we are committed to reducing trusts’ reliance on expensive agency workers, whilst ensuring they can meet their temporary staffing needs. One of the ways we are achieving this is by working with NHS Improvement to support trusts to develop tech-enabled, sustainable and effective in-house staff banks that cover all staff groups and therefore provide a viable alternative to agency. Year Total Agency Expenditure2012-13 £2,113 million2013-14 £2,589 million2014-15 £3,190 million2015-16 £3,635 million2016-17 £2,935 million2017-18 £2,407 million2018-19 (year to date, month 10) £1,999 million

NHS: Staff

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many NHS staff were killed at work in each of the last ten years for which records are available; and what were the reasons for those deaths.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: Individual trusts are responsible for maintaining such records at a local level.The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for maintaining national records of people killed at work. However, these statistics do not separately identify whether individuals are National Health Service staff.

Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements

lord berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the E111 European Health Insurance Card will be valid after 29 March in the event of (1)their present exit plan being agreed, (2)a no-dealBrexit, (3) the UK remaining in the Single Market, (4) the UK remaining in a customs union, and (5) the UK remaining in the EU.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: On 19 March 2019, I laid a written ministerial statement (HLWS1396) on the Department’s plans for the continuity of reciprocal healthcare arrangements in the event we exit the European Union without a deal. This statement includes specific guidance on European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs).The United Kingdom Government remains committed to leaving the EU with a deal. Subject to the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement by Parliament, UK nationals will be able to continue benefiting from existing EU provisions, such as the EHIC scheme, during the implementation period until the end of December 2020.In the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the UK Government is seeking agreements with Member States, so that no individuals face sudden changes to their healthcare cover.

Prescriptions: Employment and Support Allowance

baroness sherlock: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of individuals who were identified as entitled to income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) but who were moved to contributory-based ESA from Incapacity Benefit who were eligible for free prescriptions that they were then unable to claim as a result of that move; and what plans they have to compensate those individuals for any prescription charge paid.

baroness sherlock: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of individuals who were identified as entitled to income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) but who were moved to contributory-based ESA from Incapacity Benefit who were eligible for freewigs and fabric supports that they were then unable to claim as a result of that move; and what plans they have to compensate those individuals for any charges paid for such wigs and fabric supports.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The Department of Health and Social Care is currently liaising closely with the Department for Work and Pensions, NHS England and the NHS Business Service Authority on this important issue, and reviewing all available evidence.As part of this work, the Government is carefully considering how to proceed with regard to individuals who were placed on contributory, rather than income-related, Employment and Support Allowance.

Dental Services: Employment and Support Allowance

baroness sherlock: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of individuals who were identified as entitled to income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) but who were moved to contributory-based ESA from Incapacity Benefit who were eligible for freedental treatment and denturesthat they were then unable to claim as a result of that move; and what plans they have to compensate those individuals for any charges paid for such treatment.

baroness sherlock: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of individuals who were identified as entitled to income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) but who were moved to contributory-based ESA from Incapacity Benefit who were eligible for freesight tests and glasses that they were then unable to claim as a result of that move; and what plans they have to compensate those individuals for any charges paid for such sight tests and glasses.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The Department of Health and Social Care is currently liaising closely with the Department for Work and Pensions, NHS England and the NHS Business Service Authority on this important issue, and reviewing all available evidence.As part of this work, the Government is carefully considering how to proceed with regard to individuals who were placed on contributory, rather than income-related, Employment and Support Allowance.

Out-patients: Travel

baroness sherlock: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of individuals who were identified as entitled to income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) but who were moved to contributory-based ESA from Incapacity Benefit who were eligible forfinancial assistance with travel fares to attend hospitals or other establishments for NHS treatment or servicesthat they were then unable to claim as a result of that move; and what plans they have to compensate those individuals for any charges paid for such travel fares.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The Department of Health and Social Care is currently liaising closely with the Department for Work and Pensions, NHS England and the NHS Business Service Authority on this important issue, and reviewing all available evidence.As part of this work, the Government is carefully considering how to proceed with regard to individuals who were placed on contributory, rather than income-related, Employment and Support Allowance.

Department for Education

Children: Day Care

baroness mcgregor-smith: To ask Her Majesty's Government what actionthey are taking to ensure childcare costs are affordable in the UK.

lord agnew of oulton: This government is making childcare more affordable and more accessible. Helping parents with their childcare costs is one of the best ways to support families with the cost of living and ensuring every child has the opportunity of a high-quality early education.The government will spend around £3.5 billion on early education entitlements this year alone – more than any other government.All 3 and 4-year-old children in England are eligible for 15 hours of free childcare. Children of working parents are eligible for an additional 15 hours, saving families up to £5,000 per year in total. 15 hours free early education is also available to the most disadvantaged 2-year-olds. Tax-Free childcare provides additional financial help from government to help with any additional costs, worth up to £2,000 per child per year for children under 12 (or up to £4,000 per year for disabled children under 17). Those parents in receipt of Universal Credit can claim up to 85% of their childcare costs. The Childcare Choices website supports families’ understanding of what might be available to them. This can be found at: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

Children: Day Care

baroness mcgregor-smith: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to undertake a review of the cost of childcare and how it can be reduced for all parents.

lord agnew of oulton: The government annually collects and reviews data on childcare affordability. The childcare providers and parent surveys are published annually as official statistics. These include data on childcare fees, the amount parents pay for childcare and parents’ experiences of childcare affordability. These are used extensively by the government to inform policy development and understand how existing policies benefit parents. In September 2010, 15 hours of free weekly childcare was introduced for all children aged 3 to 4, which was extended from September 2017 to 30 hours for working parents of 3 to 4-year-olds. In 2013, 15 hours of free weekly childcare was introduced for disadvantaged 2-year-olds. Tax-free childcare was launched in April 2017, giving eligible families up to £2,000 free per child towards childcare costs for children aged under 12. As part of Universal Credit, parents can claim up to 85% of their childcare costs. The government will spend around £3.5 billion on early education entitlements this year alone – more than any other government. More than 700,000 of the most disadvantaged 2-year-olds have benefited from 15 hours free childcare since 2013, and more than 340,000 3 and 4-year-olds benefitted from our 30 hours offer in its first year, meaning parents are spending less on childcare or are able to work more flexibly. The government entitlements are supporting as many families as possible with access to high quality, affordable childcare. Parents using the 30 hours can save up to £5,000 per year on the costs of childcare, and almost 4 in 5 parents using the 30 hours, report having more money to spend as a result.

Academies: Admissions

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to updating the Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 2006 to enable officers of local authorities to inspect and take copies of the admission and attendance registers of academy schools in their areas.

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish the review of the legal framework for academies required under regulation 16 of the Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 2006.

lord agnew of oulton: The government has no plans to update the Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 2006 to enable officers of local authorities to inspect and take copies of the admission and attendance registers of academy schools in their areas.The department intends on publishing a review of the amendments to the Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 2006 as amended later this year.The amendments that will be reviewed include regulation 5 which covers the contents of the admission register, regulation 8 which covers deletion from the admission register, and regulation 12 which covers information to be provided to the local authority.The regulations apply to all schools in England.

Academies

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made with the commitment in theEducational Excellence EverywhereWhite Paper (Cm 9320), published in March 2016, that "we will engage MATs, sponsors, academies, dioceses and the wider schools sector to ensure that the legal framework for academies is fit for the long term".

lord agnew of oulton: The government keeps the legal framework for academies under review to ensure that it remains fit for purpose. The department also engages with stakeholders and listens to proposals from them to improve its effectiveness.The department introduced revised versions of the academies model funding agreement in March 2018 and has recently published revised model articles of association for Church of England and Catholic academies.In addition, each year, the government reviews the Academies Financial Handbook and the Academies Accounts Direction to ensure that the guidance remains relevant and fit for purpose. This is also an opportunity to respond to criticism such as a lack of disclosure on Related Party Transaction, where from 1 April 2019, the requirements are being substantially amended.The Academies Financial Handbook and the Academies Accounts Direction, the Academies Articles of Association for Catholic Academies are attached. The academies model funding agreement, as well as the minority and majority Articles of Association for Church of England Academies will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.



Academies_Financial_Handbook_2018
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Academies_Accounts_Direction_2017_to_2018
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Education: Reviews

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government which reviews were announced in theEducational Excellence EverywhereWhite Paper (Cm 9320), published in March 2016; and what work has been undertaken in respect of each such review.

lord agnew of oulton: The Educational Excellence Everywhere white paper announced reviews in the following areas: behaviour management content for initial teacher training (ITT); teacher workload; the approach to governance training; the functions and responsibilities of local authorities in relation to children; the Achieving Excellence Area methodology; the citizenship programme of study; special educational needs and disability practice; and accountability for alternative provision providers.Progress has been made across all these areas with the outcomes publicly available. Tom Bennett’s ‘Developing behaviour management content for ITT’ report, his ‘Independent review of behaviour in schools’ report, and the response to the review by the former Secretary of State for Education (Justine Greening), my right hon. Friend for Putney, are attached.The Report of the Independent Teacher Workload Review Group, the governance handbook for academies, multi-academy trusts, and maintained schools, the ‘Good intentions, good enough?’ review, the ‘Creating Opportunity for all’ report, and the Opportunity Areas Selection Methodology are publicly available and will be deposited in the libraries of both Houses.In relation to citizenship, the government is currently developing proposals to help young people gain the attributes needed for active and positive citizenship.In relation to local authority responsibilities, the department established an advisory group and continues to hold regular discussions with representatives from local authority stakeholders.Our approach to supporting areas of the country with weaker educational outcomes (known as Achieving Excellence Areas (AEA) in the 2016 White Paper) has progressed. In 2016 the department launched the Opportunity Areas programme which used the AEA methodology as part of its selection methodology.In 2018 the department announced Opportunity North East, which focuses on improving secondary outcomes in the region. This continues to build on our approach to supporting areas of the country with weaker educational outcomes.



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Ministry of Justice

Prison Sentences

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the effects of imprisonment for short sentences of less than six months on family relationships.

lord keen of elie: Strengthening the ties individuals have with their families and friends is an important factor in reducing reoffending. While we have not undertaken a formal assessment of the effects of short prison sentences on family relationships, we know that custody more generally can have an impact on family engagement. We are considering options to restrict the use of short custodial sentences, but we have not at this stage reached any conclusions. There is persuasive evidence showing community sentences, in certain circumstances, are more effective than short custodial sentences in reducing reoffending. The MoJ study ‘The impact of short custodial sentences, community orders and suspended sentence orders on re-offending’ published in 2015 found that over a 1-year follow up period, a higher proportion of people re-offended having been sentenced to custody of under 12 months without supervision on release than other similar people given community orders.

Department for International Trade

Agricultural Products: Import Duties

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the UK’s revised World Trade Organization tariff schedule relating to agricultural imports will come into effect.

baroness fairhead: In the event of a ‘no-deal’ exit from the EU, the UK’s tariff schedule for all goods will come into effect at the point that the UK leaves. The UK will implement this temporary tariff regime for up to 12 months whilst a full consultation and review on a permanent approach is undertaken. In the event of a deal being secured the UK will continue to apply the EU’s Common External Tariff during any implementation period. The UK would seek to negotiate a Future Economic Partnership with the EU during this time and publish a revised applied tariff schedule at the end of the implementation period.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

lord porter of spalding: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the publication of the Buildings Research Establishment interim report, Fire performance of cladding materials research - experimental methodology and performance criteria, what assessmentthey have made of the temperature needed to test the panels to ensure their performance reflects that experienced of a real fire in a cladding system on a high-rise residential building.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: As set out in the methodology, the heat source is designed to replicate a heat flux which is representative of a fully developed, post flash-over compartment fire. This would be more severe than is used in most standard classification tests but similar to the severity of a BS 8414 large scale test.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

lord porter of spalding: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the test establishments that tested glass reinforced plastic composite fire doors about contributing to the remediation plan for replacing non-compliant fire doors being developed by the Association of Composite Door Manufacturers.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The Association of Composite Door Manufacturers (ACDM) have committed to taking action to repair and replace affected fire doors where required. The ACDM are leading on producing the industry-led remediation plan. It is for them to engage with stakeholders and bring forward their proposal.As part of our investigation into the fire door industry, my department continues to work with test establishments and other stakeholders to raise quality and standards across the market.

British Nationality: Assessments

lord hodgson of astley abbotts: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to announce the results of the consultation on the Integrated Communities Strategy green paper, in particular the review of the Life in the UK test, which closed on 5 June 2018.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: On 9 February, we published the Integrated Communities Action Plan alongside the government’s response to the consultation on our Integrated Communities Green Paper. The Action Plan contains a range of cross-government measures to support the government’s commitment to build strong integrated communities where people – whatever their background – live, work, learn and socialise together, based on shared rights, responsibilities and opportunities.The Government has committed in the Action Plan to revise the content of the Life in the UK test to give greater prominence to British values. We are currently considering how to take forward the process of consulting and seeking input into the Life in UK Test.

Community Relations

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what initiatives they plan to implement to unite communities across the UK post-Brexit.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: In March 2018, the government published the Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper which set out our ambitious goal to build strong integrated communities where people - whatever their background - live, work, learn and socialise together, based on shared rights, responsibilities and opportunities. This is especially important as we leave the European Union and seize the opportunity to create the kind of country we want to be: a global, outward-looking, connected nation. On 9 February 2019, we published the Integrated Communities Action Plan alongside the government’s response to the consultation on the Green Paper. The Action Plan builds upon the proposals set out in the Green Paper and commits the government to deliver over 70 policy actions by the end of this Parliament.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Fund: Employment and Support Allowance

baroness sherlock: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of individuals who were identified as entitled to income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) but who were moved to contributory-based ESA from Incapacity Benefit who were eligible for Social Fund payments that they were then unable to claim as a result of that move; and what plans they have to compensate those individuals for any such missed payments.

baroness buscombe: It is not possible to provide an estimate of the number of claimants affected, due to differences in the way that these payments are administered and because of the variation in individual circumstances. For example, some Social Fund Payments, such as Sure Start Maternity Grant and Funeral Expense Payments, have to be claimed. Some claimants on contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) may not have made a claim to the Social Fund at all, while others may have qualified for Social Fund payments through an entitlement to other means-tested benefits such as Housing Benefit and Child Tax Credit. Cold Weather Payments are paid automatically to those who are entitled and payments may only be made for the most recent winter. However, we are looking at amending the regulations to ensure that those eligible for Cold Weather Payments from December 2017, when we began the ESA underpayment exercise, be paid any arrears that may be due. An estimate of the numbers who may be affected by the change to the regulations could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Air Pollution: Children and Young People

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration has been given to developing a cross-governmental healthy air for children action plan as part of a national framework to protect children and young people from toxic air.

lord gardiner of kimble: In January, the Government launched the Clean Air Strategy, our world leading plan which focuses on tackling air pollution in England. Air pollution is the top environmental risk to human health in the UK. The Strategy, jointly launched by the Secretaries of State for Environment and Health, was welcomed by the World Health Organization as “an example for the rest of the world to follow.”   All the measures set out will reduce emissions of pollution, improving public health. The Strategy includes the comprehensive action required across all parts of the Government to improve air quality for everyone, including children and young people.   Ministers and officials across Government Departments will continue to regularly discuss air pollution and how to reduce it so we can improve the air we breathe now and for future generations.

Air Pollution

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to secure agreements with EU countries to work on reducing levels of air pollution after Brexit.

lord gardiner of kimble: The UK remains a signatory to the 1979 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, and will continue to be at the forefront of international action and cooperation to tackle transboundary air pollution alongside the EU.  Air quality targets agreed at an EU level have already been given effect in domestic law to ensure that they continue to have effect in the UK. This includes a continued commitment to the Best Available Technique approach to regulating industrial emissions.

Bees: Conservation

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action, if any, they are taking to save the shrill carder bee from extinction.

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action, if any, they are taking to save the royal splinter crane fly from extinction.

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action, if any, they are taking to save the violet click beetle from extinction.

lord gardiner of kimble: Natural England is working with a range of external partners on the Back from the Brink programme. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and other external funders, this is an inspiring partnership for threatened species and their habitats. The programme is safeguarding the future of 12 specific species, including the shrill carder bee, and benefiting over 200 others, including the violet click beetle and royal splinter crane fly.   The Back from the Brink programme is supporting the conservation of the shrill carder bee in its two strongholds in England, in Somerset and the Thames Gateway. By working with specialists and volunteers, the programme is improving our understanding of the needs of this rare bee, encouraging improved management of existing flower rich grassland and creating further habitat to support its populations.   The programme’s partners are also improving the management and understanding of ancient woodlands which provide habitat for the violet click beetle and royal splinter crane fly, including Windsor and Savernake Forests. The project is providing habitat for these species by installing beetle boxes and managing ageing trees, and is providing opportunities for the public to encounter and learn about these vital species.

Eggs: Imports

the earl of shrewsbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what trade protections will be in place on (1) egg, and (2) egg product, imports from countries outside the EU in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Government recognises the importance of eggs as an affordable and nutritious food for UK consumers. The UK egg industry has led the way in promoting high welfare standards, which the Government is committed to maintaining along with our existing high food standards for all imports. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 12 April a temporary tariff regime would apply to all UK imports from countries with which no trading arrangement is in place, including the EU. In setting that temporary regime the Government has sought to strike a balance between the impacts on consumers and producers. No duty would apply to eggs or egg products. The temporary tariff policy would only apply for up to 12 months. During the 12 month period, the Government will work with industry and remain responsive to businesses and consumers. We will consider exceptional changes where clear evidence is provided against the criteria set out by the five principles of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018. After this, the Government intends to introduce a long term tariff regime. This would be developed over the course of the next 12 months following an appropriate public consultation process with interested stakeholders, including the egg sector.

Home Office

Obscenity

baroness howe of idlicote: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) arrests, and (2) convictions, for importing child sex dolls there have been in the financial years (a) 2016–17, (b) 2017–18, and (c) 2018–19.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office does not hold centrally the information requested.The Home Office collects and publishes data on the number of arrests for notifiable offences on a financial year basis but it is not possible to separately identify those for the importation of child sex dolls.Data on the number of arrests are published in the ‘Police Powers and Procedures, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-walesInformation on prosecutions and convictions is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice.



Police Powers and Procedures Eng & Wales 2018
(PDF Document, 1.14 MB)

Right to Rent Consultative Panel

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times the Right to Rent Consultative Panelhas met since the publication of the report by the Chief Inspector on Borders and Immigration on the right to rent scheme.

baroness williams of trafford: The Independent Chief Inspector’s report on the Right to Rent scheme was published in March 2018. The Government’s response can be found athttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/695205/Formal_Response_Right_to_Rent.pdfSince then the Consultative Panel has met once, in October 2018. The Right to Rent Consultative Panel is scheduled to meet again next month. Home Office officials have also met panel members to discuss the design of a new on-line checking service for landlords and lettings agents.



Formal Response Right to Rent - Aug-Dec 2017
(PDF Document, 238.48 KB)

Female Genital Mutilation: Prosecutions

lord morris of aberavon: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byBaroness Williams of Trafford on 7 March (HL Deb, col 711),whether they will ask the Attorney General to invite the views of inspectorates of the police and the Crown Prosecution Service on the problems of prosecuting cases of FGM.

baroness williams of trafford: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a crime and it is child abuse. The Government will not tolerate a practice which can cause extreme and lifelong physical and psychological suffering to women and girls. We strengthened the law in 2015, including through the introduction of Female Genital Mutilation Protection Orders (FGMPOs), which are often issued with the purpose of preventing FGM from happening. 296 FGMPOs were issued between Octo-ber 2015 and September 2018. The Government works closely with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to ensure a robust and effective response to FGM.Cases of FGM involving very young and vulnerable victims are among the most complex referred to the CPS. The CPS has appointed lead FGM prosecutors, and local investigation and prosecution protocols between the police and CPS are in place to ensure that robust cases for prosecution are built. A joint police and CPS focus group for so-called honour-based abuse (HBA), forced marriage and FGM is pushing for continuous improvement in the handling of HBA cases and an increased level of support for complainants and witnesses.There are a number of specific issues with the prosecution of these crimes. They can involve victims being hurt and coerced by members of their own families and communities, making it difficult for them to feel confident to report the crime. Additionally, in many instances when cases are referred to the CPS, it does not have jurisdiction to prosecute, if the procedure was carried out overseas before the victim moved to the UK. Further, medical evidence alone cannot prove all the elements of the offence.In 2015 Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary published a report – “The depths of dishonour – Hidden voices and shameful crimes” into the police response to so-called honour-based violence, forced marriage and FGM. This made 14 recommendations for improvement. Progress against those recommendations is monitored by the Home Office, including at a meeting on 27 February 2019 of the National Oversight Group for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment, chaired by the Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability.The Government is working with communities and stakeholders to emphasise the adverse health consequences of FGM and the fact that it is illegal, including through a recent awareness-raising campaign and through ongoing outreach work by the Home Office’s FGM Unit.

Asylum

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their projected forecast for the number of (1) refugees, and (2) asylum seekers they expect to accept in each of the next five years; and whether they expect those projected figures to change if the UK (a) does, and (b) does not, leave the EU.

baroness williams of trafford: Population projections, including for different migration scenarios, are the responsibility of the independent Office for National Statistics.The Home Office does not publish the projections indicated. As indicated in the report for the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), Evaluation of existing migration forecasting methods and models, there are many social, economic and political drivers which can impact migration flows, making forecasting migration an extremely difficult task. Migration is susceptible to shock events which are, by their very nature, hard to predict, such as economic cycles, military conflict and policy changes. Therefore, the probability of a single forecast being correct is low.Notwithstanding this, we remain on track to deliver our commitment of resettling up to 23,000 vulnerable refugees under our resettlement schemes by 2020 and are confident that the outcome of EU Exit will not impact our ability to achieve this.

Refugees

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether refugees will be afforded the same rights as now if the UK withdraws from the EU.

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what contingency plans are in place for refugees in anticipation of the UK withdrawing from the EU without a deal.

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have acted upon advice from humanitarian organisations regarding the protection of refugees and asylum seekers after the UK has withdrawn from the EU.

baroness williams of trafford: The rights of people granted refugee status in the UK are unchanged when we leave the EU. The UK will continue to be bound by the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights and will continue to provide protection to all those who need it in accordance with our international obligations.Regardless of how the UK exits the EU, the rights and status of those who have been granted refugee status in the UK will remain unchanged, as the 1951 UN Refugee Convention is not contingent on EU membership.The Government continues to work closely with relevant partners such as the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to ensure the UK continues to meet our international obligations, and to facilitate the safe transfer of children under family reunification.

Firearms: Licensing

the earl of shrewsbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the fees charged by GPs to provide medical information to support a firearms licence application.

the earl of shrewsbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of encoded reminders that have been placed on the patient records of firearms licence applicants following the grant or renewal of a firearms licence.

the earl of shrewsbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) number of GPs who have refused to provide medical information to support a firearms licence application, and (2) reasons for such refusals.

the earl of shrewsbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Chief Constables in England and Wales must be in receipt of a medical report for a firearms licence applicant prior to granting or renewing a firearms licence.

baroness williams of trafford: In accordance with arrangements introduced in 2016, relevant medical information is requested from the GPs of those who apply for a firearms licence before the licence is issued. Police forces must be satisfied that a person does not pose a danger to public safety before granting or renewing a firearm licence and they may require sight of medical information before proceeding to issue the licence.The Government does not collect statistics on the participation of GPs in the firearms licensing process, placing of the encoded reminder, or the level of any fee that GPs may charge their patients for providing medical information to the police. However, we do understand from information from informal reports from police forces and firearms licence applicants that participation rates amongst GPs and the fees that they charge are variable. We have been in discussions with the police, medical bodies and shooting representatives about improving the arrangements for providing medical evidence and how greater consistency can be achieved.The Policing and Crime Act 2017 introduced a power to enable the Secretary of State to issue statutory guidance to the police on their firearms licensing functions, which include the medical arrangements. Before issuing the statutory guidance, the Secretary of State must consult the National Police Chief’s Council and the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland, and we will also consult publicly on the guidance before it is published. Once issued, the police will be required to have regard to this guidance, and this will therefore help to ensure greater consistency in practice across the country. The Government intends to launch the consultation on the statutory guidance before the summer recess.

Passports

lord wasserman: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many holders of UK passports also hold passports issued by other countries.

baroness williams of trafford: Her Majesty’s Passport office does not hold a central record or database of persons holding both a UK passport and foreign passport.

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the open letter of 25 June 2018 from nine British and French voluntary organisations, about the UK–France joint action plan on illegal migration across the Channel, published on 24 January, alleging that the plan ignored international law and asylum seekers' individual rights.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government rejects any suggestion that it has ignored international law or the individual rights of asylum seekers. We strongly advocate the principle that international protection should be sought, and is most effective when given, in the first safe country a refugee arrives in.We also have a duty to secure our border. Close cooperation with partners such as France is designed to deter illegal migration and the organised crime that enables it, while encouraging and supporting effective access to protection in France by those who need it is entirely consistent with that approach. Our partnership with France is part of the Government’s wider whole of route approach to migration, which includes supporting refugees and the countries that host them through aid and development funding and operating refugee resettlement schemes to provide a safe and legal route to the UK for the most vulnerable.

Cabinet Office

Government Efficiency Review

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to assess the financial benefits to UK taxpayers that have resulted from the Green Review of public sector procurement, published in October 2010.

lord young of cookham: Responding to the findings of the Green Review, HMG took steps to increase efficiency across Government. This included work to enable the UK public sector to get better value from its procurement of common goods and services which is now being taken forward by the Crown Commercial Service. The Government has published details of savings made through efficiency and reform each year since 2010. The most up-to-date figures are contained in the Crown Commercial Service 2017-18 Annual Report which details £354 million in commercial benefits including savings for central government and £247 million for the wider public sector in that financial year.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Borders: Northern Ireland

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Williams of Trafford on 11 March (HL13966), of which part of the internal discussions on avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is it not in the public interest to disclose details; and what assessment they have made of the relationship between any decision not to disclose those details and the Prime Minister having identified the issue as that which prevents a deal being agreed with the EU on Brexit.

lord callanan: On 13 March we published details of our plans to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland in a no deal scenario. We have confirmed a temporary, unilateral approach to checks, processes and tariffs to do all we can to achieve this. The UK Government would not introduce any new checks or controls on goods crossing from Ireland to Northern Ireland, including any new customs declarations. The UK temporary tariff regime would therefore not apply to goods crossing from Ireland into Northern Ireland.As these are unilateral measures, they only mitigate the impacts from exit that are within the UK Government’s control. These measures do not set out the position in respect of tariffs or processes to be applied to goods moving from Northern Ireland to Ireland. We also recognise that there challenges and risks for maintaining control of our borders and for the competitiveness of businesses in Northern Ireland. That is why we are clear that this approach would be strictly temporary.A negotiated settlement is the only means of sustainably guaranteeing no hard border and protecting businesses in Northern Ireland. In a no deal scenario, we are therefore committed to entering into discussions urgently with the European Commission and the Irish Government to jointly agree long-term measures to avoid a hard border.Full guidance on the no deal Northern Ireland policy can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-exit-avoiding-a-hard-border-in-northern-ireland-in-a-no-deal-scenario.

Borders: Northern Ireland

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 13 March (HL13776), how they will ensure that both Houses of Parliament and their relevant select committees are given timely information about the progress and details of the evaluation of "alternative arrangements" and "technologies"; and whether they will publish the joint work stream agreed with the EU.

lord callanan: The UK and EU have agreed to consider a joint work stream to develop alternative arrangements, including the use of technology, to ensure the absence of a hard border, and this work will form an important strand of the next phase of negotiations. Our aim is to ensure that, even if the full future relationship is not in place by the end of the implementation period, the backstop is not needed, because we will have a set of alternative arrangements ready to go. We have secured a legally binding commitment that both sides will aim to replace the backstop with alternative arrangements by December 2020 - and that they do not need to replicate the backstop in any respect.The Government is doing everything we sensibly can to provide for ongoing scrutiny through the negotiating process. We will continue to report regularly to select committees in person and by responding fully to inquiries and reports.

Treasury

Child Benefit

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 6 March (HL13927), in how many cases there has been a failure by the claimant to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge which the claimant had then been required to repay.

lord bates: High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) is part of the Self-Assessment (SA) process and is reflected in each individual’s overall SA tax charge. This HICBC charge is included in the individual’s annual SA tax return and, where HICBC is recoverable, will form part of the overall tax due by that person. It is therefore not possible to distinguish HICBC charges from other SA charges that may be included for that tax year. For SA overall, 8% of people did not pay by the due date, meaning the vast majority (92%) paid on time.

Policy

lord bird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the long-term impact on future generations is accounted for in their policy-making processes.

lord bates: The Government requires that all programmes, projects and policies demonstrate the costs, benefits and risks associated with the intervention over its whole lifetime in line with the Government “Green Book”. This includes the impact on future generations. The OBR produce both the Fiscal Risk Report and the Fiscal Sustainability Report which highlight the risks to the public finances and demographic trends that are likely to impact the public finances over the next half century. Managing Fiscal Risks, the Government’s response to the report, provides a comprehensive account of the actions the government is taking to address the 57 risks outlined by the OBR.

Cash Dispensing: Disadvantaged

lord hodgson of astley abbotts: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they plan to take to ensure that the reduction in the availability of cash does not act to the detriment of the most disadvantaged in society.

lord bates: The Government is committed to safeguarding access to cash for those who need it. We will continue to engage with the regulators and industry to ensure people continue to have real choice over how they spend their money, recognising that cash is particularly important to the most vulnerable members of our society. The Government-established Payment Systems Regulator is closely monitoring developments within ATM provision. It has used its powers to hold LINK to account over LINK’s commitments to preserve the broad geographic spread of the ATM network. Last year, Government conducted a call for evidence on cash and digital payments in the new economy. This sought to gather evidence on how changing preferences for cash and digital payments impact on different sectors, regions and demographics. The Government welcomes the Access to Cash Review, which will help inform our ongoing work to ensure cash remains accessible. The Government will formally respond to the call for evidence in due course.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

ICT: Competition

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve data transparency amongst large tech companies in order to support competition in the digital services sector.

lord ashton of hyde: The 2018 Data Protection Act, which applies the EU’s GDPR standards, ensures data transparency amongst all those who process personal data, including large tech companies. Under the GDPR, companies “must be able to demonstrate that personal data are processed in a transparent manner in relation to the data subject.” These transparency obligations begin at the data collection stage and apply “throughout the life cycle of processing.This Government is committed to promoting competition in digital markets, to boost competition and innovation for the benefit of consumers and businesses. As such, we commissioned an independent panel, led by Jason Furman to report on the state of competition in digital markets. In its report, published on 13 March, the Panel makes recommendations for changes to the UK’s competition framework in order to face the economic challenges posed by digital markets, in the UK and internationally. Their report includes a bold set of pro-competition measures to open up digital markets, including measures to improve data openness and data mobility. Government is reviewing these recommendations and will issue a response shortly.

Loneliness

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made to date in implementing their Loneliness Strategy, A connected society: a strategy for tackling loneliness, published on 15 October 2018.

lord ashton of hyde: Government’s strategy on tackling loneliness in England includes 60 new policy commitments from across government, with a range of timescales for implementation. Each of the nine departments involved is responsible for the delivery of its own policies, and implementation is overseen by the cross-government ministerial group on loneliness, chaired by the Minister for Sport and Civil Society. A number of commitments have already been delivered, including the launch of an online social prescribing platform, and the award of grant-funding to 126 organisations through the Building Connections Fund. Government will include an update on progress in its first annual report on tackling loneliness, which we expect to be published later in 2019.